Method of spraying agricultural chemicals



METHOD OF SPRAYING AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS Original Filed Nov. 27, 1963 6Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.|

INVENTORS WELKER W. FUNK HARRY M. MEINERT ATTORNEY July 19, 1966 w. w.FUNK ETAL 3,261,551

METHOD OF SPRAYING AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS Original Filed Nov. 27, 1963 6Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

INVENTORS.

WELKER w. FUNK HARRY M. YMEINERT ATTORNEY July 19, 1966 w. w. FUNK ETALMETHOD OF SPRAYING AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 OriginalFiled Nov. 27, 1963 INVENTORS. WELKER W. FUNK HARRY M. MEINERT ATTORNEYJuly 19, 1966 w. w. FUNK ETAL METHOD OF SPRAYING AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Nov. 27, 1963 INVENTORS WELKER W. FUNKHARRY M. MEINERT BY ATTORNEY July 19, 1966 w w, K ETAL 3,261,551

METHOD OF SPRAYING AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS Original Filed Nov. 27, 1963 6Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS.

WELKER W. FUNK HARRY M. MEINERT ATTORNEY July 19, 1966 w. w. FUNK ETAL3,261,551

METHOD OF SPRAYING AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS Original Filed Nov. 27, 1963 6Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG.6

INVENTORS. WELKER W. FUNK HARRY M. MEINERT ATTORNEY United States Patent2 Claims. (Cl. 239-8) This application is a divisional of copendingapplication Ser. No. 326,476 filed November 27, 1963.

The present invention rel-ates to a method of distributing pesticidesand other agricultural chemicals wherein the chemical material isentrained in a controlled air blast for subsequent deposition on plants,such as trees, bushes, and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved method ofcontrolling an air blast in which chemical material is entrained tosecure better penetration of the plants to be treated by the air blast,and also to achieve more even deposition of the chemical upon plantfoliage.

To this end it is an object of the present invention to provide a methodof generating an air blast which extends perpendicularly of the normalpath of travel of the apparatus, to divide a lower portion of the airblast into differently angled streams which are adapted to contact aplant in such a manner that the foliage is forced open, and to directthe upper portion of the air blast into the opened foliage.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art after a consideration of the following detaileddescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich the preferred form of this invention is illustrated.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air blast sprayer incorporating thenovel principles of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus employed tooscillate the upper vanes in the discharge housing of the air blastsprayer.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the oscillating mechanism shown in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 3a and 3b are schematic illustrations of the oscillating mechanismshown in FIG. 3 in its two extreme ranges of position.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 showingthe upper oscillatable vanes in the discharge housing, with somerepetitive portions omitted.

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4 showing the manner inwhich the oscillatable vanes are pivotally secured to the dischargehousing, the blower being omitted.

FIG. 6 is a view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 1 showing the fixeddiverter vane assembly in the lower portion of the discharge head.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view taken from the rear of the spraying machinein which the upper portion of the air blast is shown in two extremepositions, the dotted lines showing the upper portion of the .air blastwhen the upper portion is directed downwardly, and the dot-dash linesshowing the upper portion of the air blast when the upper portion isdirected upwardly, and the dash lines indicating the lower portion ofthe air blast.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing how the foliage of a tree may bedeflected by the diverging lower streams permitting the upper portion ofthe air blast to achieve better penetration.

In the following description right-hand and left-hand reference isdetermined by standing to the rear of the sprayer and facing thedirection of travel.

Referring first to FIG. 1 in which a sprayer embodying the principles ofthe present invention is illustrated, the sprayer includes a chassis 10supported by a pair of wheels 12 and adapted to be drawn through anorchard, orange grove, or the like by a tractor 13 (FIG. 8) hitched to aforwardly extending draft bar 15. Supported on the chassis 10 centrallyof the machine is a tank 14 adapted to contain agricultural chemicals,which can include plant nutrients, stickers, fungicides and pesticides,the latter including herbicides and insecticides, the tank being adaptedto be filled through the opening closed by a filler cap 16. An engine ismounted within an engine compartment 18 forwardly of the tank 14 and isadapted to drive a pump through suitable transmission means for pumpingthe spraying material from the tank 14 to the discharge pipes 20 at therear of the machine. The engine is also connected through suitabletransmission means including belts 22 (FIG. 2) to a blower fan 24 (FIG.6) mounted within the discharge head, indicated generally at 26, thedischarge head having an outlet opening 27.

The blower 24 is mounted on a blower shaft 28 to which is keyed thesheave 30 that receives the belts 22. The shaft 28 is supported on frontand rear bearing blocks 32 (only the rear bearing block being shown) andthe bearing blocks are in turn carried by suitable structure 34 on thechassis 10.

Mounted to the front and rear of the discharge head 26 are inlet areas36 and 38 respectively. Disposed over the inlet areas are front and rearsafety shields or screens 40 and 42, respectively.

The sprayer so far described is in many respects similar to the sprayershown in Patent No. 2,676,057 to G. W. Daugherty issued April 20, 1954,and reference may be had thereto for a more complete description to thisgeneral class of sprayers. However, it should be noted that sprayers ofthis class are designed to be drawn through orchards and the like bytractors, as above referred to, and that the spray material containedwithin the tank 14 is caused to be discharged through the nozzles 44 onthe discharge pipes 20 by means of the pump which is driven by theengine. As the spray material is being discharged, the fan or blower 24is simultaneously driven from the engine and air drawn in through theinlet areas 36 and 38 is impelled through the outlet opening 27 in thedischarge head 26, the spray material discharged through the nozzles 44being entrained in the discharged air.

According to the principles of the present invention, the discharge head26 is provided with novel means to control the discharged air, and thesemeans include fixed fore-and-aft lower diverter vane assembliesindicated generally at 46, and upper oscillatable vanes 48. It should benoted that the outlet opening 27 of the discharge head extends from oneside of the machine to the other, and that identical control means areprovided at each side of the machine.

Disposed to the front and rear of the discharge head 26 are framemembers 50 (FIG. 5), and secured to the upper portion of each framemember 50 is a shield and upper vane support structure, indicatedgenerally at 52. Each shield and support structure includes pivot ringsupports 54 which are secured to the associated frame member 50 in aconventional manner. The supports 54 are provided with inwardly directedflanges 55 to which are secured a pivot ring 56. An upper shield support58 is secured to the pivot ring support 54 and the shield support 58 inturn carries the upper shield member 60. Each of the upper shieldmembers is provided with a plurality of apertures 62, and pins 64 aredisposed on the pivot ring 56 in alignment with the apertures 62. Anupper shield cover 66 is disposed over the pivot ring support 54.

One end of each of the fore-and-aft extending tubular pivot members 68is flattened and secured to the associated vane 48, the other end ofeach of the pivot members 68 extends through the associated aperture 62and is disposed about the aligned pin 64.

The vanes 48 on the upper portion of the rightand left-hand sides of thesprayer are oscillated by means of rightand left-hand shifter rings orsegments 70 and 71, respectively, FIG. 4, which are connected throughnightand left-hand first rock arms 72 and 73, respectively, formed onthe rear ends of rightand left-hand rockshafts 74, and 75, respectively,FIG. 3, the rockshafts being oscillated in a manner more fully set forthbelow. Each of the vanes 48 is connected to its associated shifter ringby means of a vane control link 76 which is pivotally secured at one endby means of a pivot pin 77, and each vane is pivotally connected at theother end to an upstanding flange 78 on a bracket 79 (FIG. by means of apivot pin 80. Each of the brackets being in turn welded or otherwisesecured to the associated vane 48. The flange 78 is provided with a slot82, and fastener means 84 in the form of a nut and bolt or similardevice is adapted to secure the vane control link 76 to the flange 78 inadjustable position. Each vane may be individually adjusted with respectto the other vanes by loosening the fastener 84 and swinging the vane 48to its desired position.

The vanes are caused to be oscillated, as mentioned above, byoscillation of the rock shafts 74 and 75. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3the right-and left-hand rock shafts 74 and 75 are caused to beoscillated by linkage indicated generally at 86 which is connected to acrank or eccentric 88 which is in turn driven from the sprayer motor bysuitable drive means. The linkage includes rightand left-hand secondrock arms 90- and 92, respectively, extending outwardly from therightand left-hand rockshafts 74 and 75, to which they are rigidlysecured, the right-hand second rock arm 90 extending upwardly and theleft-hand second rock arm 92 extending downwardly, the arms 90 and 92being interconnected by suitable strap means 94. Extending downwardlyfrom the right-hand rockshaft 74 is a third rock arm 96 which isconnected through a pivot pin 98 to a two-piece link 100 which ispivotally connected at its lower end to the crank wheel or eccentric 88by pin means 101 (FIG. 3).

The crank 88 is adapted to be driven from the sprayer motor by suitabledrive means which includes a belt 102 disposed over a sheave 104 whichdrives a speed reducer 106 which in turn drives the crank wheel oreccentric 88. The speed reducer is mounted within the front inlet area36 and is secured to the rear wall 108 of the tank 14 by means ofsuitable support means which includes rightand left-hand angles 1 and1412 respectively, which are welded to the rear wall, transverse upperand lower angles 114 and 116 respectively, and a horizontal mountingplate 124 which extends rearwardly from the upper transverse angle iron114, the rear end of the plate being supported on the lower transverseangle iron 1116 by a strap 126.

An upper transverse bearing plate 118 is secured to the angles 110 and112, the plate 118 carrying rightand left-hand bearings 120 and 122,each of which receives one end of the associated rightand left-handrockshafts 74 and 75. A rear portion of each of the rockshafts 74 and 75is supported in an associated bearing 74a, 75a (FIG. 4) carried by theforward support and shield structure.

Mounted within the outlet opening 27 on each side of the lower portionof the discharge head is a fixed diverter vane assembly (FIG. 6). Thevane assembly is secured to the frame members 50 of the discharge headby means of clips 1 28 which carry front and rear vertical vanes 130. Aplurality of horizontal vanes 131 is secured by means of weld nuts 132and cap screws (133 to the front and rear vertical vanes 130. Innervertical vanes 134 are secured to the inner sides of the horizontalvanes 131 also by means of weld nuts and cap screws. Further horizontalvanes 136 and vertical vanes 138 are secured to each other in a similarmanner and a horizontal center support 140 is employed to secure theinnermost vertical vanes 138 together. The horizontal vanes may beadjusted angularly by loosening the cap screws 133 and moving the outerend up and down to the desired position and then tightening the capscrew.

The operation of applicants device should be apparent from the foregoingdescription, however it should be noted that the blast of air generatedby the blower 24 will be distributed radially through the outlet 27 andthat the portion of the air plast which passes through the lowermostparts of the discharge head will encounter the fixed diverter vaneassembly 46 and thus the lower portion of the air blast will be divertedinto two streams, one stream of air extending forwardly and outwardly ofthe spraying machine, and the other blast of air extending outwardly andrearwardly of the machine as can best be seen from FIG. 8. That portionof the air blast which is impelled through the upper portion of theoutlet 27 contacts the osoillatable vanes 48 and is swung upwardly anddownwardly as schematically illustrated in FIG. 7. When the air streamis directed downwardly, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 the upper portion willpass between the lower diverted streams and thus introduce agriculturalchemicals into that portion A of the tree or bush that has been openedup by the diverted streams.

In some instances it may be desirable to keep the upper vanes fromoscillating and to this end a bracket 142, (FIGS. 2 and 3) is mounted onthe upper transverse angle iron 1-14, the bracket 142 having a slot 144to which the lower ends of the link 1100' may be secured in an adjustedfixed position.

Also, the degree of oscillation may be varied by pivotally securing thelower portion of the link 100 to one of the radially inner holes 146(FIG. 3) on the crank wheel 88, the degree of oscillation being reducedcorresponding to the reduction in distance of the selected hole from thecenter of the crank wheel. A further adjustment is provided in that thelink 1110 may be shortened from the position shown, by repositioning thebolts 148 in such a manner that they pass through the holes 150, thusshortening the link 100.

While we have shown and described above the preferred structure in whichthe principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is tobe understood that our invention is not to be limited to the particulardetails, shown and described above, that, in fact, widely differentmeans may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of ourinvention.

We claim:

1. A method of applying agricultural chemicals to a plant whichcomprises the steps of directing an air blast against the plant,entraining agricultural chemicals in the air blast, splitting the lowerportion of the air blast into two fixed diverging portions, oscillatingthe upper portion of the air blast upwardly and downwardly whereby theupper portion of the air blast is directed at times between the lowerdiverging portions.

5 6 2. A method of applying agricultural chemicals to a References Citedby the Examiner plant which comprises the steps of providinga firstlower UNITED STATES PATENTS air stream directable against a plant,prov1d ing a second lower air stream directable against a plant andextending 638,435 12/1899 Allen 43*147 at an angle away from said firstair stream, providing 5 2,331,107 10/1943 Daugherty 239-78 an upper airstream, oscillating the upper .air stream up- 2,6'77,576 5/1954 Bran?23977 wardly and downwardly whereby the upper air stream is 3,088,6765/1963 Nottingham 239-78 directed at times between the lower airstreams, and introduoing agricultural chemicals into all of said airHENSON WOOD Pr'mary Exammer streams. 10 V. WILKS, Assistant Examiner.

1. A METHOD OF APPLYING AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS TO A PLANT WHICHCOMPRISES THE STEPS OF DIRECTING AN AIR BLAST AGAINST THE PLANT,ENTRAINING AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS IN THE AIR BLAST, SPLITTING THE LOWERPORTION OF THE AIR BLAST INTO TWO FIXED DIVERGING PORTIONS, OSCILLATINGTHE UPPER PORTION OF THE AIR BLAST UPWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY WHEREBY THEUPPER PORTION OF THE AIR BLAST IS DIRECTED AT TIMES BETWEEN THE LOWERDIVERGING PORTIONS.